Means for supporting vehicle-bodies.



G. A. BEHLBN.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING VEHICLE BODI BS.

mmm-L F/EQI- Patented J an. 5, 1915.

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U. A.. BEHLEN. MEANS FOR SUPPORTING VEHICLE BbDIBS.

' APPLIGA'UQN. PILET) DEC. 2, 1913.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOT0-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

CHARLES A. BEHLEN, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING VEHICLE-BODIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed December 2, 1913. Serial No. 804,174.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. Bnnnrm, acitizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county ofHenrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Means for Sup porting VehicleBodies, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is the provision of improved means forsupporting vehicle bodies upon side springs, which means shall becomprised of few parts, be simple in construction, easily assembled,light in weight and durable, which shall maintain its square positionunder all conditions of service, provide a wide body bearing, andutilize the extreme flexibility of the springs, thus attaining ease inriding.

The invention consists in certain novelties of construction andcombinations of parts as herein set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an example of the embodiment of theinvention constructed according to the best mode of procedure I have sofar devised for the purpose.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of the axles, head block, sidesprings, center spring, and the improved means for supporting the bodyupon the side springs. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one rub iron. Fig. 3is an enlarged view in elevation of part of one side spring, one rubiron, the end of the cross brace, the spring bar, and the means foruniting the several parts. Fig. 4 is a section on line 0c-m, Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a section on line yy, Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures, A designates the axles; B, the head block; 0,the side springs secured at their ends to the head block and the rearaxle by clips; D, the center spring secured at its ends to the axles; E,the two rub irons each with two arms a or having recesses b b forreceiving the arms 0 c of the I-shaped cross brace F preferably made inone piece and perforated at each end at d, as indicated, 6 6 being holesin the arms and body of the rub iron; G, a perforated lug extended fromthe side of the rub iron; H, the spring bars having perforated bosses Jat the ends; bearings K K engaging the top surface of a spring and acentral perforation L for a threaded bolt M passed through the lug ofthe rub iron, the cross brace, the spring, and the spring bar, and N Nthe body loops each having sockets O at the ends fitting the bosses Jand perforated, thus interlocking therewith and relieving the bolts P ofcross strains. The bolt M is threaded to receive a nut Q above thespring, a spacing tube R- surrounding the nut and another nut S appliedto the end of the bolt above the spring bar, all as shown. Aspacingwasher T may be inserted between the lug G and the cross brace,as indicated. The center of spring D is connected to the cross brace bya perforated yoke U and two clips V V, the clips crossing each other andholding the parts together, thus obviating the use of holes in the crossbrace and spring, thereby preventing the breaking of either, which inthe common construction frequently occurs. Clips W W are extended aroundthe spring bar, spring, and the arms 0 c of the cross brace, and theirthreaded ends passed through holes 6 e in the rub iron and secured bynuts X X, as clearly shown. The body loops are provided with perforatedextensions Y Y to receive bolts for the attachment of the body.

From the foregoing description taken with the drawings it is clear thatI have provided very simple and efiicient means for supporting a bodyupon the side springs, the cross brace and body loops holding thesprings parallel and the spring bars preventing any distortion of thesame. Moreover, the flexibility of the springs is not impaired and theyare relieved of severe strains at the centers where the holes arelocated to receive the bolts.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of the side springs, the perforated rub irons havingarms a a and a perforated lug G, the cross brace perforated at the ends,the spring bars, bolts passed through each end of a brace the lug G aspring and a spring bar, and clips surrounding each spring bar andspring and their ends passed through the perforations in a rub iron.

2. The combination of the side springs, the perforated rub irons havingarms a a and a perforated lug G, the cross brace having arms 0 c andperforated at the ends, the spring bars, bolts passed through each endof a brace the lug G a spring and a spring bar, and clips surroundingeach spring bar spring and arms 0 c and their ends passed through theperforations in a rub iron.

3. The combination with the cross brace having two arms 0 c at each end,of a per forated rub iron having arms and a perforated lug G a spring, aspring bar, a bolt passed through the lug G cross brace spring andspring bar, and clips surrounding the spring bar spring arms 0 0 and theends of the clips secured Within the perforations in the rub iron; bodyloops being secured to the ends of the spring bars for supporting abody.

4. The combination of a perforated rub iron having arms and a perforatedlug- G, the perforated end of a cross brace, a perforated spring, aperforated spring bar, a bolt passed through said perforated elements, anut above the spring, a nut above the spring bar, and clips uniting thespring bar spring and rub iron.

5. The combination of a perforated rub iron having arms and a perforatedlug G, the perforated end of a cross brace, a perforated spring, aperforated spring bar, a bolt passed through said perforated elements, anut above the spring with a spacing tube around it, a nut above thespring bar, and clips uniting the spring bar spring and rub iron.

6. The combination of a perforated spring, a perforated spring barbearing upon the spring at two points, a perforated rub iron, a threadedbolt passed through the perforations in the spring bar spring and rubiron, a nut on the threaded bolt clamping together the spring and rubiron, another nut clamping the spring bar to the spring, and clips inline with the bearing points of the spring bar upon the spring and eachside of the said bolt uniting the spring bar spring and rub iron.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES A. BEHLEN. Vitnesses R BIE BRAUER, BROCKENBROUGH LAMB.

I Copies of this patent may be obtained tar five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

